US2000866A - Chassis checking gauge - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935.l R. D. SMITH cHAs'sIs CHECKING GAUGE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 16, 1934 R. D. SMITH cHAssIs GHECKING GAUGE May 7, 1935.

Filed April 16, 1934 s sheets-sheet 2 Emmen-umana l Elm-.1. musulmana- "J PIE-1E IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY R. D. SMITH CHASSIS CHECKING GAUGE May 7', 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1934 FEL--- OK '0. .5M/TH INVENTOR.

1 Patented May 7, 1935 i PATENT ori-Ica CHASSIS CHECKING GAUGE Boy D. Smith, Davenport, Iowa, assigner to Bee Line Manufacturing` Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Company,

" Davenport,

Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,741

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for checking the various parts of the chassis of a motor vehicle, both as to toe-in of the wheels and as to rectitude of the frame. Among the objects of this invention are to provide improved means for frame checking; to provide improved means for checking toe-in; to provide accurate means for checking frame alignment; and such further objects, 'advantages and capabilitiesas will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now considered the preferred embodiment of this invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a plan View illustrating use of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing another mode of utilizing this invention in the checking of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one embodiment of this invention; i

Fig. 4 is a bottom shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation oi another embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a still further modication of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing still another modification;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the sighting elements; l

Fig. 9 is a vertical -section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 9-,9, Fig. 10;`

Fig. 10 is a section at a right angle to the plane of Fig. 9 and taken substantiallyalong the plane indicated by the line IIl-I 0 of that iigure;

Fig. 11 is a view comparable to ,Fig l0 but showing the clamp applied to the transverse bar one mode of face View of the construction and having gauge pointers mounted therein and l carried thereby;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken approximately along the plane indicated bythe line I2I2, Fig. 5,'and in the plane indicated by the arrowheads;

Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating both frame checking and toe-in checking;

Fig. 14 is an elevation in one direction and Fig. 15 an elevation at a right angle thereto, these two gures showing more in detail a part of the apparatus used in/toe-in checking;

Fig. 1.6 is a fragmentary plan view of the left hand portion of Fig. 14.

Because of the change in construction and design of motor vehicles which renders obsolete much of the present equipment for checking the frames of such vehicles,`it has been necessary toy produce other equipment capable of use with the vehicles constructed according tothe designs now accepted. Therefore, since it is practically irnpossible to get at the vehicle frames from the outside, I have proceeded to produce apparatus capable of utilization underneath the vehicle and between the side frame members.

Figure 1 shows the application of this appa- -ratus at the two endsof the frame and intermediate the ends thereof, while Fig. 2 illustrates the use of this apparatus in connection with the vehicle axles. It will of course be understood that these two i'lgures are largely diagrammatic and designed merely to illustrate the `utilization of the mechanism.

Various specific forms of construction are shown in the different gures but they are essentially the same, nevertheless. A pair of graduated cross-bars I and 2 having loops 3 at their 'inner ends for embracing, slidably, the bars to which they are not secured are provided at their outer ends with sleeves 4 which have set screws 5 therein whereby the graduated vertical bars E may be secured in properly adjusted position. As shown in Fig. 3, these vertical bars 6 may have their ends bent laterally, as indicated at 1, to engage the lower flanges of the side frame members 8 of the vehicle. By virtue of this construction, this gauge member can be suspended from the two frame members, the sleeves 4 being adjusted vertically on the bars 6 until the tops or bottoms of these sleeves may be read at the same point on the ltwo bars. The sleeve 9 is slidably mounted on the cross bars I and 2 and may be moved longitudinally thereof until the readings at the two sides of the sleeve, upon the two bars, are identical. This is not exactly true of the illustration in Fig. 3 but is? nearly so.l The cross bar I0, carrying the pointers` I I, may be formed integrally with the sleeve 9 or may be secured thereto. In order to be of valueinchecking the vehicle chassis, the line deiinedlibyfthe f' two pointers II must be at a right angleto' that dened by the cross bars I and 2.A f If one of these devices is placed at each of the two ends of a machine, as'shown -in Fig. 1, afrij' the sleeves 9 are set at the middle thereof, as de-A axles, as shown in Fig. 2. These can be used without the intermediate member for determining 'parallelism of the axles, and with the intermediate member in the same manner as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. From Fig. 3 it will be seen that the graduated bars 6 may be removed from the sleeves 4 and rotated ninety degrees (90), to assume the positions shown at the right in Fig. 2.

The structure shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 but differs therefrom in certain respects which will now be described. The vertical bars 5 with bent ends 'I are replaced by straight bars 8a having frame clamping members I2 provided with thumb screws I3. The clamps I2 are secured to the bars 6a by means of thumb screws'l4. By means of the thumb screws 5 and I4, the cross bar may be adjusted into parallelism with the piane of the frame, as indicated in connection with Fig. 3.

'Ihe sleeve 3 is replaced by a sleeve 9a which is adjustable along the bars I and 2, as in the previously described construction. A. thumb screw I5 extends through a wall of the sleeve 9a and serves to clamp the sleeve and the cross bar together. Opposite parallel arms I6 depend .from the sleeve 9a and have \'shaped notches cut or formed therein to receive a pipe I8, as shown in` Fig. 5. These notches I I tend to hold the pipe I8 at right angles to the cross bar, as will be evident. A spring or springs I9, secured at one side of a notch I1, may have a loop at one end thereof engaged with a hook 2| to hold the pipe' up in position. By placing one of these constructions at each end of a machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the center line of the machine may be established. Now, if an intermediate member is used, as in Fig. 1, the sleeve 9a being free to slide along the cross bar, the straightness or crookedness of the frame members 8 may be determined by taking the readings on opposite sides of the sleeve 9a of the middle unit. In this way, any point where the frame is out of true may be quickly and easily determined. It will of course be understood that when the pipe I8 is used, the aligning points II will be omitted. Also, the cross bar Illa, shown in Fig. 11, will be omitted at this time. This cross bar Illa has an opening formed centrally therethrough for the reception of a thumb screw 23 which clamps the bar in place in the rectangular notches I'Ia. The cross bar Illa and aligning points II have the same function as described above in connection with Figs. 3 and 4. If a single aligning point is desired, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the cross bar Illa may be omitted and the aligning point I I inserted in the opening in sleeve 9a in place of the thumb screw 23. This use is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6 there is shown means for holding the upright bars 6a against the outside of the frame member 8 which comprises a sleeve 24 having a pivoted holding member 25 actuated into clamping position by means of a spring 26. The purpose and function of this device will be clearly evident from Fig. 6. A similar device is shown in Fig. '7 which differs from Fig. 6 to the extent that a pointed member 28 is screwed or otherwise fastened into an opening in the upper end of the `.upright bar 6a and serves to engage the grease opening in an alemite o r other fitting used at the ends of frame members of many motor vehicles. This gives quite an accurate place to test from and also serves to support the checking apparatus very rigidly. The use of this apparatus is shown quite clearly in Fig. 13.

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16 there is shown apparatus for checking the toe-in of wheels and in Fig. 13 is shown the use thereof. This comprises the apparatus described in connection with sheet 3 of the drawings and other apparatus to be now described. A collar 30 is slidable on the pipe I8 and is secured in position thereon by means of a thumb screw 3|, which holds it in any desired and hooked head 33, may be supported at one end 'on the pipe I8 by having the hooks 34 hooked over the pipe I8 on opposite sides of the collar 30. These hooks or arms t closely against opposite ends of the sleeve 30 but engage the same loosely enough so that there is no difficulty in turning the arm about the pipe. This arm has an extension which is adjustable with relation thereto and is held in adjusted position by means of the thumb screw 36. Near its outer end the extension 35 has a collar 31 which serves as an abutment for the spring 38, located between the collar and the support 39. Near its mid-point, the support 39 has a sleeve through which the rod 35 passes, the latter being screw-threaded at its outer end and having a nut thereon by means of which'the position of the support 39 on the rod 35 may be adjusted. By turning the nut 40 on the rod 35, the spring 38 may be compressed, thus forcing the support 39 inwardly toward the pipe I8 and decreasing the distance between the pipe and the indicating point 4I. At its normally lower end, the support 39 has feet 42 which rest upon the oor or ground for supporting the outer end of the arm. Indicating points 4I are located coaxially on opposite sides of the support 39, as is apparent from Fig. 15.

The use of this device is illustrated in Fig. 13

from which it will be seen that, after the checking device has been suspended from the frame and so located as to determine the center line thereof, the collar 3D is adjusted along the pipe I8'until the indicator point 4I will just touch the tread of the tire when the latter is rotated, with the vehicle jacked up. This indicating point should contact the surface of the tire at approximately the middle of its bearing face. After a line has been scribed on the face of the tire, the marking apparatus is removed from the pipe I8 and the collar 30 is moved to the dotted position at the right end of Fig. 13. The marking apparatus is now placed in position, as shown by dotted lines, and the amount of toe-in of this wheel, at this setting, is indicated by the distance between the indicator point 4I and the line scribed on the tire. A similar procedure for the other wheel will determine the amount of toe-in of this one, also. If there is a slight variation between the indicated toe-in of the two Wheels, the average of the amounts will indicate the toe-in for each wheel. The pipe, las illustrated in Fig. 13, is somewhat exaggerated as to size but nevertheless illustrates the principle involved.

While I have disclosed what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of this invention, I desire this disclosure to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a chassis checking apparatus, a composite composite bar and adapted to be placed in the mid-plane of a vehicle when the slide is adjusted to the mid-point in the length of the composite bar, said composite bar having at its ends means for engaging opposite parts of the sides of the frame of a vehicle.

2. In a chassis checking apparatus, a compositey bar comprising graduated bars held together in side-by-side relation for relative sliding motion, a slide embracing the graduated bars and having a V-shaped notch therein for the reception of a rod or pipe for indicating the central'plane of a vehicle when the slide is adjusted to the mid-point in the length of the composite bar, and a rod`or pipe engaged in said V-shaped notch to be supported from the vehicle in the axial plane thereof, said composite bar having at its ends means for engaging opposite parts of the sides of the frame of the vehicle and support the rod or pipe in said axial plane.

3. In a chassis checking apparatus, a pair of composite bars for determining the mid-plane of the chassis, in combination with a pipe or rod to be suspended from said composite bars, each of said bars comprising a pair of graduated bars g connected together to slide longitudinally relatively to each other, upstanding members adjacent the ends of the composite bars and adapted to engage and be supported from the frame of the chassis, a slide on each composite bar to be located mid-way of the ,length thereof, and means for holding the pipe or bar against said slide and for supporting same in line with the mid-points of said two composite bars.

4. A chassis checking apparatus as dened by claim 3 havinga collar slidable along said pipe or bar and securable at any desired point in the length thereof, and a marking unit having a forked end adapted to engage over the pipe or bar' and be positioned by said collar, said marking unit having a marking point to engage the tread of a tire and scribe a line thereon when the wheel carrying the tire is rotated.

5. A chassis checking apparatus comprising a plurality of elements to be attached to a vehicle frame and suspended therefrom, said elements each having a slide to be adjusted to the mid-point in the length thereof and one or more of said elements having a cross bar arranged at a right angle thereto and carrying a pair of sighting points spaced lengthwise of the cross bar from each other, and the remaining element or elements having sighting means to cooperate with the first named sighting means.

6. A chassis checking apparatus comprising a pair of checking units to be located one at each end of the chassis and a third unit to be located intermediate the ends thereof, each of said units comprising a pair of marked bars, overlapping and in sliding, relation, and a slide encircling the overlapping parts of said bars, said slide being capable of longitudinal adjustment o'f the bars and of being located mid-way between the extreme ends thereof, said extreme ends having means whereby the bars may be suspended from the chassis with the mid-point of the slide in the mid-plane of the vehicle.

7. A structure as defined by claim 6 in-which the checking units at. the two ends of the chassis have sight-supporting bars arranged transversely thereof, and a pair of sights on each of said sightsupporting bars, the line of sight in each case being at a right angle to the checking unit.

8. An element of a' chassis checking apparatus comprising an arm having a forked and hooked end and at its opposite end an adjustable extension, said extension having adjacent its outer end a support whereby the outer end of the arm and i the extension may be supported above the floor or the ground, said support having a marking point projecting therefrom to bear against and scribe a line on the tread of a tire when rotated.

9. Chassis checking apparatus comprising a pair of graduated relatively slidable bars held together in parallel relation to form a composite bar, means to be placed mid-way between the extreme ends of the composite bar to be used in .determining the mid-plane of the chassis, and means for attaching the apparatus to the chassis to support thel first mentioned means in the mid-plane of the chassis, each of the slidable 'bars having a loop surrounding the other bar to keep the axes of the bars substantially parallel, the means for attaching the apparatus to the chassis being located adjacent the extremities of `the composite bar and serving to engage the side frame members ofv a vehicle.

10. A structure as defined by claim 9 in which the means adjacent the extreme ends of the compositefbar are adjustable transversely of theibar, and the supporting means being graduated to enable the composite bar to be adjusted toward and away from the vehicle and to be adjusted into parallelism with the plane of the vehicle frame.

ROY D. SMITH.

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